Ronson’s Reunited a great success

Back to all news

Five attendees gather close, laughing, as one in a denim jacket shows a phone to another at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.

On 16th May (2026) more than 40 former employees of the Ronson Lighter Factory gathered together for a reunion as part of Flame Keepers, a heritage project recording the untold history of those who worked at the factory between the 1960s and 1980s.

For many attending, it was the first time they had seen one another since the factory closed in 1984 – more than 40 years ago.

Hosted by Discover More CIC at Independent Arts on Newport High Street, tables were strewn with old photographs showing groups of women laughing, the endless assembly line, technicians in white coats, and carefree moments of celebration and hijinks.  As people walked through the door, their faces visibly lit up as they tried to spot their younger selves and recall the names of old colleagues.

“That’s me”
“That’s me,” said Christine, pointing to a smiling teenager posing on the assembly line. “Look, that’s Little Val and Karen.”

Soon, the room was filled with talk of days long ago, the camaraderie, shared memories of throwing ‘exploding’ lighters into sand buckets (health and safety was a different beast back then), lunch breaks in the well-run canteen and, of course, the weekend visits to nightclubs. 

“I was a flame setter, but I also worked in rectification, sorting out faulty lighters,” explained one woman who used to be a supervisor. “There was the official Ronson way of doing things, but I found quicker ways.”

“I met my husband there”
For others, the factory changed their personal lives forever. “I met my husband there,” one attendee shared. “I said, ‘Who is that man who looks just like Cliff Richard?’ And the rest is history!”

Easy conversation flowed alongside a conveyor belt of laughter. For a moment, you could imagine you were right back on the factory floor during a tea break.

“I didn’t want to become a hairdresser, so my mum said, ‘You have to get a job, phone up Ronson.’ Which I did,” said Karen. “The money was good and I already had school friends working there.” 

Another attendee echoed the economic reality of the era: “I wanted to go to art college, but at that time it didn’t seem likely, so I got a job at Ronson and stayed there for years.” 

Supporting family
Others recalled how Ronson was a lifeline for women who needed to support their family, “My mum had to get a job when dad became seriously ill, and Ronson was a good option for unskilled women to get well-paid work. They even delivered work to our house. I think mum had to glue 500 lighter covers in a day!”

However, it wasn’t just former workers who attended. Marlene Irving brought along an incredible number of products made at the Newport factory, collected by her late father Stanley Whittington, who worked for Ronson. From the Picnicker stove to the hand-held hair dryer, countless lighters and travel cases, these pristine examples of Ronson products helped the memories flow.

There is no doubt that a key element of Ronson’s success – the Isle of Wight factory famously outperformed all other European branches – was the fact that it was a family affair. Mothers worked alongside daughters, who in turn recommended friends, creating a completely unique working environment. While the work was undeniably hard, with “time and motion” men checking productivity, the pay was excellent, especially for young women straight out of school. 

“Ronson was a great place”
“Ronson was a great place, those really were the best days,” said Pat. Of course, factories rely on efficiency and effective processes, but perhaps the secret Island ingredient was the nurturing, family atmosphere that the workers created for one another.

By the end of the afternoon, there was standing room only. The room was a radiant mix of people rekindling old flames, exchanging phone numbers, smiling and hugging.

Thanks
Thanks go to Independent Arts for hosting the event and Isle of Wight County Press for use of archive images.

Flame Keepers is part of Creative Island’s Past Futures programme, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation (HIWCF).

All event photography by Julian Winslow

Click on the images to see larger versions.

Seen through glass, an attendee in a navy cardigan laughs, pointing and holding a small tablet at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
Four attendees smile and pose close together while another, seen from behind, takes their photo on a phone at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
Three attendees lean in to look at a sheet of paper held by one of them, one holding a mug at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
A woman in an orange jacket holds a sheet of paper and laughs with an attendee in glasses who covers her mouth at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
An attendee in a purple floral top looks to one side, with another in a pink hooded jacket in the foreground at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
A woman in a blue cardigan raising a finger as she speaks, beside a man holding a microphone, at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
A man holds a handheld recorder towards an attendee in a navy quilted jacket at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
Attendees at a table of photos look at a printed sheet held by one of them, as another checks her phone at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
An attendee in a navy fleece glances towards the camera, seen past a leaflet stand and table at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
Two seated attendees talk at a table of printed photos, one holding a pink phone at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
Attendees stand around a green table of printed photos; one leans over it while another listens, hand on chin at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
Three attendees lean over a table of printed photos, one holding a printed sheet and another pointing at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
Two attendees talk with gesturing hands near an easel, one in a navy cardigan, the other in a pink cardigan at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
A man holds a handheld recorder towards a laughing woman in glasses and a beige hooded top at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
Attendees stand and lean over a green table of printed photos; one holds a black folder at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
A woman in a blue fluffy cardigan and a man holding a hat talk with a woman in orange at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
An attendee in a pink cardigan and glasses looks at a small clear object in her hands at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
A man in an olive fleece gestures with both hands as he talks, with printed photos on a table behind at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
Close-up of hands turning the pages of a photo album with clear plastic sleeves, while others stand behind at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
Attendees chat and laugh by a table with a leaflet stand, a woman in a cream jacket in the centre at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
A woman laughing and gesturing with both hands as a smiling man records her on a handheld recorder at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
A man holds a handheld recorder towards a smiling woman in a denim jacket and scarf at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
A smiling attendee in a navy cardigan leans down to talk to a seated woman in a black jacket at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
Attendees talk by the entrance, a woman in an orange jacket holding a clipboard speaking with a woman at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
Two attendees sit side by side, one in a navy cardigan smiling broadly and holding small cards at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
An attendee in a pale blue cable-knit jumper and glasses, mouth open in surprise, reaches out as she speaks at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
Attendees stand around a table of photos next to a tea station, one in an olive jacket with her hands clasped at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
An attendee in a fur-collared coat and glasses laughs as an attendee in a green top reaches towards her at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
Three attendees stand beside a tea urn, two looking down at a small yellow card held by one of them at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
A man in a black fleece looks down as an attendee in a green gilet talks with one in a pink cardigan at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
An attendee in a cream jacket looks up as a man in a navy jumper talks to her at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
Attendees chat in a group, a smiling woman in a dark gilet talking with a man in a navy jacket seen from behind at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
A woman in a red top, holding a mug, shows a small dark folder to an attendee in a denim jacket and scarf at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
An attendee holding a mug looks down at rows of printed photos laid out on a green table at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
A man in a black fleece and a woman in a green gilet look down at a table at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
A man holds a handheld recorder towards a woman in glasses and a pink jacket at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
Seen through a window, a man holding a small dark case talks with an attendee in a pink cardigan at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
Three attendees look down at an orange photo album held open by one of them at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
An attendee in a quilted jacket, holding a mug, points to one side as others stand nearby at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
Two attendees look at a small dark green case held by one of them while another gestures towards her head at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
A man holding a handheld recorder as he interviews a seated white-haired woman holding a mug at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
An attendee in a pink jacket laughs and reaches towards printed photos on a table as others look on at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
A black and gold patterned Ronson lighter in its box, with a card addressed to Ronson Products Ltd Service Department, Leatherhead.
A metal sign with 'Ronson' cut out, in front of a blurred collection of gold, silver and coloured Ronson lighters and an old print.
A table of Ronson hairdryers, lighters and a Ronson carrier bag, seen between two blurred visitors.
Ronson pocket and table lighters with their packaging, including a boxed Varaflame Comet, an Electronic 90 and a pack of Ronson Purafilters.
Ronson lighters, including a boxed Electronic 90 and a blue and gold table lighter, beside a white hairdryer and two framed photos.
Ronson memorabilia: a Ronson carrier bag, a hot air comb box and a green 'Ronson Picnicker Picnic Stove' sign above white hairdryers.
Close-up of hands holding open a small photo album, with another hand pointing at a page at the Ronson Reunited event in 2026.
A selection of prints of old Ronson photos spread across a table ready for people to look through